Photographic enlarging machine



Feb. 20, 1945. H HJORT 2,369,897

PHOTOGRAPHIC ENLARGING MACHINE y Filed Feb. l2, 1943 3 Sheets-Shea?l l F' .1 Y j'i n? Z0 622966 6 /64 Z0 e? 1N VENTOR.

@MTW ATTORNEY.

Feb. 20, 1945. H HJORT 2,369,897

PHOTOGRAPHIC ENLARGING MACHINE Filed Feb. 12, 1943 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 20, 1945. H, HJORT 2,369,897

PHOTOGRAPHI C ENLARGING MACHINE Filed Feb. 12, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VENTOR.

Patented Feb. 20, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICII?.

PHOTOGBAPHIC ENLABGING MACHINE Henry Hjort, Bay Terrace, Staten Island, N. Y.

Application February l2, 1943, Serial No. 475,693

2 Claims.

This invention relates to photographic apparatus and has particular reference to photographic enlarging machines.

One object of the invention is to provide improved means comprising a light source and reflector and a spaced tiltable film holder to permit the photographic enlargement to appear to have been taken at a different angle than the picture on the nlm.

Another object of th'e invention is to provide an apparatus of the type mentioned wherein the light source and reflector" unit and the spaced film holder are independently tiltable in an improved manner for different angular eects.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved means whereby the lens unit is laterally movable in a practically universal manner for centering the image on the work table.

Another object of the invention is the provision of photographic apparatus, such as enlarging machines, wherein a plurality of light conducting chambers are mounted for relative tilting movement to each other, with a bellows interengaging the same and being in slidable relation to one of the chambers for lateral adjustment of the same according to said tilting action, to avoid straining the bellows and to prevent the bellows from interfering with the setting of certain parts such as a lens unit or causing accidental shifting thereof.

Another object of the invention is the provision of improved means for the lateral adjusting movement of a film holding chamber in certain novel relations to cooperating parts of the enlarging apparatus.

Another object of the invention is to provide a photographic enlarging machine having a light conducting chamber, such as a lens unit element, slidably mounted for non friction movement on tracks along a support with counterweights for the individual elements to facilitate easy movement thereof. i

Another object of the invention is the provision of a photographic enlarging machine having lens unit element and work table elements and improved means comprising a support with racks engaged by pinions operable to adjustably cause individual accurate setting movement of the ele- Another object of the invention is to provide photographic enlarging apparatus with improved locking means for accurately locking a slidable or tiltable element in set position in an easilyA releasable manner.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a photographic enlarging apparatus having a film holder and a lens holder connected by a bellows to the nlm holder, the lens holder being inside of the bellows to bring it close to the film holder.`

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved photographic enlarging apparatus having a plurality of film holders of diiferent sizes with one of the film holders removable and the resulting aperture closed by a lm. holder of different size.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the specication proceeds.

With the aforesaid oblects in view, the infvention consists in ,the novel combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described in their preferredembodiments, pointed out in the subjoined clairs, and illustrated in the annexed drawingawherein like parts are designated by the same reference characters throughout the several views.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view in front elevation showing an apparatus embodying the invention, with a part removed. v

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation thereof with certain rack parts shown in dot-dash lines.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional viewtaken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the broken line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an outside fragmentary enlarged view of a section taken on line 5 5 of Fig. 2. showing a supporting arm and a means for causing lateral frontward movement of the film holding chamber. l

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6-8 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7v is a fragmentary enlarged view of certain details of the means for tilting the work table, with parts in section along line 1-1 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional view `taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 9, is an enlarged fragmentary view of a locking device for the work table elevating means, shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 10 is a plan `view of the film holding slide means. shown in Fig. 3. removed from the apparatus.

Fig. l1 ls a plan view of a nlm holding element that is interchangeable with an element for holding large size illm as shown in Fig. 10. l

Fig. 12 is a sectional view on the line |2--i2 of Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is a plan view of a removable member for holding a iilm strip,- with a portion of the latter shown therein, and said member being adapted to be applied to the center frame of the film holder of Fig. 11.

Fig. 14 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view on line I4i4 of Fig. 13, but showing said member applied to the film holder of Fig. 11,

which is here shown in section.

Fig. 15 is a sectional view taken on line I5I5 of Fig. 3. r

The advantages of the invention as here outlined are best realized when'all of its features and instrumentalities are combined in one and the same structure, but, useful devices may be produced embodying less than the whole.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains, that the same may be incorporated in severaldiiierent constructions. The accompanying drawings, therefore, are submitted merely as showing the preferred exemplilcation of the invention.

Referring in detail to the drawings, 20 denotes an apparatus embodying the invention. The same may include any suitable support which may comprise a pair of upright standards 2l that may be interconnected by cross bars, including a cross bar 22 at the top thereof as shown in Fig. 3. The standards 2| are secured to a wall or the like to maintain the same in vertical position. Secured to the standards 2i and to the cross bar 22. as with the aid of angle brackets 29 are a pair of arms 24 which are adapted to carry a film holding chamber as hereinafter described. As shown in Figs. and 6, each arm 24 is formed with a pair of slots 25 spaced along a horizontal plane. Secured to opposite faces of each arm24 are metallic plates 28, there being an upper and lower of these plates 28 at each side of the arm as shown in Fig. 5, and these plates 28 being spaced from each other to fur nish grooves or tracks 2l which are in register with the horizontally elongated slots 25. At the outer ends of the arms 24, these tracks 2l? may be open. Disposed at the outer side of each arm 24 is a strip-like plate 25 which is formed with holes therethrough to receive the respective stud element 29 and shaft element 3d. At the inner side of each arm 24 is a plate or strip-like member 3i formed at one end with a hole for receiving the stud 29. At its other end the member 3l is enlarged as shown at 92, this enlargement being formed with a hole for receiving the shaft 30, and having along its upper portion a rack 33 that is horizontally disposed. It will be perceived that the plates 28 are positioned between the arm 24 and the respective members 28 and 9|.

Pivotally mounted on the studs 29 is a horizontal frame or box-like structure 34. The latter is adapted for tilting movement about the axis of the studs 29 and for horizontal movement along the arms 24 with the studs 29 moving along the slots" 25, and being thus carried in the track 21 formed by the plates 28. To cause a horizontal movement oi the member 34, a pinion 35 is flxedly mounted on a shaft 98, which shaft is suit,- ably Journaled on the arms 24, with the pinions 35 being in engagement with their respective ad- 'jacent racks Il. At one end of the shaft 28 is a hand wheel 31 for manually turning the shaft I8, whereby the racks Il andv consequently their plates 3l are horizontally slid, being carried by the elements 29, 38 slidable in the slots 25. This movement of the plates 2| will cause both of these elements 29 and 29 to simultaneously and equally slide along the slots 25.

To cause tilting movement of the box-like member 34, a bracket 55 is secured to the rear wall thereof and carries an arcuate rack 29 which is thus in fixed relation to the member 24. Engaging the rack I9 is a pinion 40 which is carried by the shaft 28. Consequently this rack and its assembly moves as a unit in the horiozntal direction with the member 24. For turning the shaft 30 a finger piece 4| is mounted thereon, the operation of which is wholly independent of the operation caused by the hand wheel 3l.

To releasably lock the shaft 30, a device 42 is provided which may comprise a pinion 48 ilxed on the shaft 30. Engageable with the pinion 43 is a tooth 44 of a bar 45 which is pivotally mounted at 48 on a screw secured to an arm 24. At one end of the bar 45, a tension coil spring 41 se cures the same to a pointfon the arm 24 to hold the tooth 44 tightly in engagement with a tooth of the pinion 43. At the other end of the bar 45 is provided a finger piece 48 and an opposed iinger piece 49 fixedly secured to the arm 24. The arrangement is such that the operator may press the finger pieces 48, 49 toward each other, to thus release the locking device. Accordingly the operator may hold the locking device 42 released with one hand, and with the other he mayrmanipulate the knob 4i to rotate the shaft 28 for tilting the member 34.

Also mounted on the studs 29 are a pair of frame members 50 as shown in Fig. 1, these frame members being freely journaled on the studs 29 so as to be tiltable independently of the tilting movement of the member 34, but being horizontally movable with the member 34. The different frame members 50 may be independent of each other and each of them may have a straight track portion 5i at the top thereof. Removably seated in the track portions 5i is a casing 52 which thus holds the members 58 at a like angle of tilt. The casing 52 may constitute the hood for light controlling chamber 53 which may be mounted on the member 34 in fixed relation thereto. The relative tilting motion between the hood 52 and the chamber 53 is effected along an arc as shown in Fig. 3, the center of the arc being the studs 29 about which the frame members 50 pivot when the hood 52 is tilted. To

avoid leakage of light, the chamber 53 may have a Wall 54 in contact with which the hood 52 is externally slidable, and said chamber also having on opposite sides arcuate overlapping wall portions 55 to overlap the sliding joint and prevent leakage 0f light rays. To retain the hood 52 in adjusted position, a tongue 58 may be secured to the chamber 53, this tongue having a slot 51 to receive a set screw 58 which is affixed to the hood 52 and passes through said slot, and is adapted to clamp the tongue 58 to the hood to prevent relative movement.

Secured to the top of the hood 52 is a bracket structure 59 carrying any suitable source of light 89 which may be in the nature of a convoluted Neon tube suitably connected to any desired source of current. In order to permit removal of the heat of this source of light. while preventing undue egress of light rays, the hood 52 may be formed with an elongated outlet 6| upon which is removably snugly fitted a dome 62 having a series of small top perforations or openings 63. To afford additional ventilation, I may provide a lateral extension or chamber 64 for the hood communicating therewith through an opening 65 and having an upwardly directed outlet 66 positioned at one end away from the point of maximum light intensity.

Disposed in the lower part of the chamber 53 is a sheet of light diffusing material, such as the glass 61, which is thus in xed relation to the chamber 53, whereas the source light 60 which substantially fills the chamber 53 is tiltable with the hood 52 as hereinabove described.

The box-like structure 34 is formed with a front opening to receive a lm holder support 68 which is arranged for complete removability as indicated in Fig. 10. Its upper and lower walls are formed with large registering openings 69, the upper of which communicates with the light diffusing medium 61, and the lower of which communicates with a flexible bellows 10 which is lixedly secured to the bottom wall of the member 34. The support 68 may be generally rectangular in shape and may be formed with a large central circular opening 1|, the adjacent portions of which form a shoulder or shelf for carrying a ring shaped frame 12` Removability of this f rame 12 may be prevented by small metal plates 13, secured to the frame 12, and serving as clips, Which at the sides and rear engage in the circular groove 13a of the support 68. The groove 13a terminates at the points 1a at which there i is a substantial cut out 15 underneath the shoulder formed at the opening 1|. Consequently the clip 13 at the front engages underneath a lip portion of the shoulder, but the sliding surface is in alignment with the groove 13a so that the frame 12 may be turned through a complete circle while being retained by the several clips 13.

To cause the turning movement of the frame 12, an arcuate rack 16 is affixed thereto as shown in Fig. 10. in engagement with a pinion 11 which is rotatably mounted in the front wall of the support 68, and is actuable by a knob or finger piece 18. It 4will now be seen that the frame 12 may be angularly set as desired regardless whether,` the support 68 be within or outside of the member 34.

The frame 12 is preferably formed with a rectangular opening which is arranged to interchangeably receive lm holders for films of different sizes. is shown in Figs. 3 and 10 and includes a frame member 19 having a central opening for a glass of transparent or translucent character. This frame member 19 is of rfenerally angular form for angular engagement with the frame 1", so as to rest thereon and to be centered by the opening` thereof. Fixed on the frame member 19 is a generally rectangular frame 8| consisting of angle elements. arranged in opposed relation to the member 19 to provide therewith tracks or grooves for slidably retaining a plurality of film holding strips 82 of flexible character. These strips 82 are equally slidable toward and away from each other to thus provide squares or rectangles of different sizes accordingr to the sia'a of the lm which is placed beneath the strins 82. In general. the latter constitute a structure similar to that of a shutter. To resiliently bear down on the strips 92 for causing the same to snugly overlie A film holder of film of large size the film and hold the latter securely in position, a plurality of strip springs 83 are secured to the frame member 8| at the Ipoints 84 so that these springs are individually horizontally swingable on bers 8|. suitable indicia may be provided which .which is secured a counterweight may comprise scales and notches as indicated at 8 la to facilitate the placement of a film in a predetermined position.

For smaller film, I prefer to use a film holder which may comprise the parts shown in Figs. 11, l2, and 13, the assembly relation of which is shown in Fig. 14. As thus assembled, it will be perceived that the holder for the smaller film will be readily substituted upon the frame 12, when the frame member 19 `is removed, after withdrawal of the support 68 from the member 34. This holder for the film of smaller size may comprise a frame member 85 which may be generally like that shown at 19 and may be similarly mounted on the member 12, except that the frame member 85 has a greater depth as shown in Fig. 14 in order to permit the lm 86 to be brought into a lower position for suitable proximity or in desired focal relation to the lens unit 81. The holder 85 may have a suitable small bottom opening registering with an opening of equal size formed in a strip member 85a`which extends along the bottom Wall and the opposite ends of which are upwardly curved toward each other as at 88. Secured to the holder 85 and overlying the strip member 85a is a generally rectangular frame 89. Removably seated Within the opening of the frame 89 is a holder 90 which is particularly adapted for a strip of lm such as shown at 86. This holder 90 may be formed as an elongated trackway for the nlm 86, with a light opening 9| in the bottom and with flanges 92 to overlie the edge portions of the film, and a finger piece 93 being secured to one of said flanges to facilitate removal of the holder 90 from the holder B5. In operation, the holder 90 sets into the opening in the frame 89 and holds the nlm 86 in slidable position along the top surface of the frame 89, with the curved end portions 88 serving as stops to facilitate positioning of the film.

When the holder is placed in the frame 12 in place of the helder 19, the frame 12 may be angularly adjusted as before by means of the knob 14.

Slidably mounted on the standards 2| isa support comprising a pair of arms 94, to which are secured plates 95 carrying spaced wheels or bearing elements 96 for non frictional-holding engagement with opposite faces of the standards 2| in course of the vertical sliding movement of the arms 94, as shown in Fig. 4. Controlling this sliding movement is a shaft 91 journaled in the arms 94 and carrying a knob 98 and pinions 99 which engage the rack bars |00 that are fixed to the respective standards 2|. To counter balance the weight of the arms 94 and such structure as they may carry, I prefer to secure a bracket I0| to the cross bar 22, said bracket carrying a pulley |02 over which is trained a flexible element |03, one end of which is fixed to a cross bar |04 of the arms 94, and to the other end of |05. This counterweight |05 may be formed with a plurality of spaced upright holes or passages for guidingly engaging a pair of rods |06 which are fixed at their upper ends to the cross bar 22 and at their lower ends in a cross bar |01 or" the standards 2|. Fixedly mounted on the arms 94 are their respective tracks |08 which extend horizontally thereof. Slidably mounted onv these tracks is a frame member |09 having at the front thereof a handle I whereby the same may be slid frontward and rearward along :he arms 94. A transversely slidable frame member is mounted on the member |09 as particularly shown in Fig. 15, this frame member I|| having rabbeted or angular engagement with the member |99 and being adapted to pass over the tops of the arms 94. Secured to the member at opposite sides thereof are handles I|2 so that the member may be moved to the right or to the left.

. Fixedly engaged with the member is the lens unit 81. It will now be seen that on manipulat-l ing the handle ||0, the member |09 is moved V frontward and rearward with corresponding deection of the bellows 10, and of course with corresponding movement of the lens unit 81. Upon manipulation of the handles H2, the bellows 19 is not moved, since it rests slidingly on member III as shown in Fig. 15, to avoid straining-the bellows, but the lens unit is moved, and this change in setting of the apparatus has been found to be suicient for a practically universal adjustment of the lens unit 81, while maintaining an absolutely light-tight engagement with the bellows 10. If desired, the bellows 1i) may be regarded as being in sliding engagement with member |09 as suggested in Figs. 3 and 15. Of course the members |09 and |I| have openings of suicient size for continuous register with each other and with the lens unit so that the latter may function in an unobstructed manner upon any adjustment. With any required adjustment as described, these elements carried by the arms 94 are also movable up and down as already referred to.

A plurality of superposed tracks I I3 are mounted on brackets I |4 aiflxed to the member |09 for receiving diierent light diffusing mediums H5 shown in dot-dash lines in Fig. 15, whereby either of these elements I5 may be slid into register with the lens unit 81.

In order to releasably lock the arms 94 in any desired vertical position, a locking device IIB may be provided as shown in Figs. 2 and 8. For this purpose a gear I I1 may be rotatably mounted on one of the arms 94 in engagement with the pinion 99. Engaging this idler gear |I1 is a pinion |I8 which is freely journaled on a. stub shaft ||9 that is non-rotatably xed to this arm 94. A portion of the shaft I|9 is threaded to receive a finger piece which operates as a. clutch to frictionally clamp the pinion I|8 when the knob |20 is tightened, whereby rotation of the shaft 91 is prevented. When the clutch action is released, the arms 94 may be readily moved upward and downward directly, and without manual actuation of the knobs 98, with the pinion 99 merely running free -and idle along the rack |00. To prevent possible excessive impact of member I 09 upon inward movement, I mount the elastic bumper elements I 2| on the cross bar |04 as shown in Fig. 3.

If the operator is bending down low upon the work table hereinafter described, and can not readily reach the arm 98, I provide an additional knob |22 upon the end of a flexible shaftv as shown in Fig. 1. This shaft |23 may be only partly exible and may include a swivel joint |24 which is connected with a shaft |25 on a bracket |26 aiixed to an arm 94 and carrying a bevel gear |21 engaging a bevel gear |28 that is secured to the shaft 91. It will now be apparent that the operator can readily reach the knob 22 and operate the same in lieu of the knob 98 for the same purpose.

Disposed beneath the lens unit and adapted to register therewith is a work table |29 which is pivotally mounted at |30 on a pair of arms |3|.

Secured to each of these arms is a guide struc- Yture |32 slidably engageable with its respective standard 2| and having for this purpose a plate and rollers 95 as hereinbefore described, and operating in the same manner for anti-friction vertical movement of the arms |3I. Interconnecting the members |32 is a cross bar I 33 whereby the arms I3| are movable as a unit and constitute a rigid structure. J ournaled in the members |32 is a shaft |34 carrying pinions |35 that engage rack bars |39 fixed on the standards 2|, but the teeth of which may have a greater pitch than those of the racks |00. For turning the shaft |34 a knob |31 is provided together with an adjacent pinion |38. A releasable locking device I39, shown in detail in Fig. 9, may comprise a pair of arms |40 pivotally mounted at |4I on one of the arms |3| and being interconnected by a tension coil spring |42 whereby their teeth |-43 engage the pinion |38 along a diameter. To release the lock |39, a cam element |44 may be rotatable by means of a stub shaft |45 having ail'ixed thereto a knob |46.

The angularlty of the arms I3I prevents obstruction by the latter of the Work table |29 when the latter is tilted backward.

For angularly adjusting the table |29, a rack bar |41 may be pivotally connected thereto at one end at |48. Engaging this rack bar is a pinion |49 mounted on a shaft |50 that is journaled in a bracket I5I fixed on the cross bar |33. To maintain the rack in engagement with the pinlon-|49 and to allow for the tilting movement of the rack |41, I may provide an idler |52 on a shaft |53 mounted in the slot |54 of the brackets I5I. A pair of tension coil springs |55 may engage around the shaft |53 so as to pull the idler resiliently into contact with the rack |41. The springs |55 are mounted on the brackets I5I so that a compact unit is thus provided.

On the free end of the shaft |50 is provided a knob |56 for manipulating the pinion |49. To releasably lock the table |29 in tilted position, a looking device such as 42 and operating in the same manner as hereinbefore described, is provided.

In order to counterbalance the Weight of the table |29, together with its movable supporting means, a plurality of counterweights I 51 may be connected to flexible elements |58 trained over pulleys |02 of the brackets |0I as hereinbefore described, the other ends of the elements |58 being connected at |59 to a cross bar |60 of the guide structure |32. A plurality of the counterweights I 51 may be provided for even weight distribution, and these counterweights may have holes or passages therethrough so that each may be guided for vertical sliding movement upon a pair of rods IGI which are exactly like those shown at |08 and are mounted in the same manner as the latter.

In operation, this apparatus may be used for enlarging or reducing both large and small lms, whereas heretofore different machines were required for large and small films. At the same time a variety of effects can be attained, as by correcting for angles at which the pictures were taken or modifying the angles. Moreover, variations in light distribution or intensity are attainable with uniform effects and gradual variation. And finally, this invention affords a great variety of settings for different conditions to meet every problem that may be encountered in the practise of the highly skilled photographer and to satisfy all of his requirements and'ideas of procedure, as well as his needs for rapid and workmanlike production of the pictures.

Briey, in operation, the operator places the large fllm in thev holder 19 using the strips 82 as a shutter and the springs B3 to reliably clamp the film. He then inserts the support 68, which carries the holder 19, into the box-like frame 34, and turns on the light 60. The'enlargement paper is placed on 'the table |29, and now the following settings can be made:

(l) The Work table |28 can be tilted and raised or lowered, by operation of the respective knobs |56 and |31.

(2) The lens unit 81 may be raised or lowered by manipulation of either of the knobs 98 and |22.

(3) The lens unit 81 may be universally horizontally set by movement of the frames |09 and (4) The lm holder 19 may be angularly adjusted in its horizontal plane, as by the knob 18.

(5) The lm holder 19 may be tilted relative to the horizontal by the knob 4 19, and reinserting the box member 88, the apparatus is directly available for small films or pictures, with all of the foregoing settings, and with the film held in closer proximity to the lens unit 81 according to the necessary focal length.

By the provision of the member 85,*small lms may be brought much closer to the lens unit, as hereinbefore noted, and this is important because when the bellows is fully collapsed, it will offer a certain bulk which Will space the lens unit away from the film holder a greater distance than would be required for work that is to be done with small film. It is this limitation which is overcome by substituting a member 8'5 in place of the lm holder shown in Fig. 10.

I claim:

1. A photographic enlarging machine including a chamber having means therein for holding a film, said chamber having a top opening, a hood for closing said opening engageable with said chamber along an arcuate surface, a light directing means mounted in said hood, and means for mounting the hood for tilting movement relative to said chamber.

2. A photographic enlarging machine including a first chamber having means for mounting a light directing means, a second chamber having lm holding means, the chambers being pivotally movable to each other in light sealing relationship, a support, common pivotal means mounting the chambers on the support, actuator means for causing pivotal movement of one of the chambers, and means to cause movement of the common pivotal means and the actuator means along the support to focus the film of the holding means on a work table.

HENRY HJ ORT. 

